1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Anyone here dealt with Bronchospasming?

Posted by cate123456 @cate123456, Dec 9, 2022

I have had MAC and bronchiectasis for over 15 years with really no or just minor symptoms and I nebulize once or twice a day, but I recently acquired a nasty coinfection (Acinetobacter Baumanni) that twice put me in the hospital w violent coughing, excess mucus, and low O2. The coughing was so violent I cracked a rib.
We finally cleared the AB a month ago, but now I seem to have what my pulm is calling Bronchospasming— more than normal mucus and constant coughing that feels like a spasm.

I'm on nebulized Pulmicort(Budesonide) twice a day and nebulizing w Levabuterol and saline three times a day.
it’s not helping.  Has anyone had Bronchospasming and dealt w it ? 

Thanks!

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Dec 9, 2022

@cate123456 Ow, I can sympathize! Before my MAC & Bronchiectasis diagnosis, I spent months that way. What finally helped it was 30 days of prednisone plus the nebs (and Singulair seemed to help).

I also know that I can still set off the spasms almost instantly with certain scents in the air - scented air fresheners and soaps or fabric softeners, something in disinfecting sprays & wipes (even unscented) and insecticides can cause coughing for days. Even things that never bothered me before can set it off, especially after a respiratory infection. A change in dishwasher soap set me off one time. My brother has the same issue, and his wife thought he was "being dramatic" until she saw us both leave an event in coughing fits.

If you haven't already, maybe look at the environment to see if something might be aggravating your situation. Also, my pulmonologist prescribed an inhaler commonly used for COPD (Symbicort) that is a combo of a long acting beta agonist and a steroid and it has greatly reduced my need for the Pulmicort & Levalbuterol (as well as saving lots of time!)
Sue

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cate123456 | @cate123456 | Dec 9, 2022

Thank you Sue!
So sorry you are so sensitive to smells— that makes life so difficult!!!
If this doesn’t calm down I will ask to try the Symbicort.
You say nebs helped you. But I am starting to wonder if maybe they are triggering it — at least the 3% saline part. It was so bad yesterday and up all night coughing last night that I stopped the nebbing of levabuterol and saline this morning except for the pulmicort. I’ve had so much abnormal excess mucus happening that seems maybe the saline is triggering. I’ve nebbed for years and never had this amount of mucus — my throat and chest sound like a gurgling engine— lol

Could this be what some posters call over-reactive airways??

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heathert | @heathert | Dec 9, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "@cate123456 Ow, I can sympathize! Before my MAC & Bronchiectasis diagnosis, I spent months that way...." + (show)
@sueinmn

@cate123456 Ow, I can sympathize! Before my MAC & Bronchiectasis diagnosis, I spent months that way. What finally helped it was 30 days of prednisone plus the nebs (and Singulair seemed to help).

I also know that I can still set off the spasms almost instantly with certain scents in the air - scented air fresheners and soaps or fabric softeners, something in disinfecting sprays & wipes (even unscented) and insecticides can cause coughing for days. Even things that never bothered me before can set it off, especially after a respiratory infection. A change in dishwasher soap set me off one time. My brother has the same issue, and his wife thought he was "being dramatic" until she saw us both leave an event in coughing fits.

If you haven't already, maybe look at the environment to see if something might be aggravating your situation. Also, my pulmonologist prescribed an inhaler commonly used for COPD (Symbicort) that is a combo of a long acting beta agonist and a steroid and it has greatly reduced my need for the Pulmicort & Levalbuterol (as well as saving lots of time!)
Sue

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@sueinmn @cate123456 thank you for that Sue I am exactly the same, window cleaner is another one for me and my hubbys Lynx underarm spray. Take care Heather

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